Forks Couple Sue Over Baby's Death

January 08, 1986|The Morning Call

A Forks Township couple are seeking more than $420,000 in a Northampton County Court suit stemming from the death of their son six days after his birth.

Alan Chester Simanski and Valerie Anne Simanski are seeking damages on behalf of themselves and the estate of Alan Charles Simanski, who was born Sept. 15, 1984, at Easton Hospital and died Sept. 21, 1984, in Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.

Mrs. Simanski was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 14, according to the suit, and on Sept. 15 underwent an emergency Caesarean section to deliver the child because he was in fetal distress.

After the birth, it was determined that the child was suffering from a respiratory ailment, and he was transferred to the Philadelphia hospital about three hours after his birth.

The suit says that Easton Hospital and the doctors and nurses there failed to provide proper care for Mrs. Simanski and the child, failed toproperly diagnose their conditions, failed to have the proper staff on call and didn't notify doctors of the existence of problems with respect to the birth of the child.

In addition, the suit claims that the Simanskis were not informed of the risks involved in the procedure.

The Simanskis are seeking damages for monetary losses and the loss their child's society and companionship. They say they have suffered great mental anguish and physical pain as a result of the loss of their child, as well as loss of one another's companionship and society. In addition, Simanski says he has needed psychiatric care for depression as a result of the death.